Extensible table



Nov. 8, 1932. A. KARLSON 1,887,266

EXTENSIBLE TABLE Filed Dec. 11, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 8, 1932. A. KARLSON EXTENSEEBLE TABLE Filed Dec.

11, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 8, 1932.

A. KARLSON EXTENSIBLE TABLE- Filed Dec. 11, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 W 7&

Nov. 8, 1932. A. KARLSON EXTENSIBLE TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov..8, 1932- 'nueus'rxentson, EWARREN; PENNSYLVANIA 3 EXTENSIBLE *Appllcatlonjledjhecember 11, 1931: swarm. 580380..

invention relates; to an extension. table. of the; character which, is commonly usecl'in; dining; rooms r and which. is. provided with-a tabletoprhavingtwo main. end leaves .Which are: movable toward1ahd from; each.

other and acenteror intermediateleaf which is adapted tobe inserted between. the end,

leaves for the purpose of lengthening the table or-removedtherefrom, for. of; shortening the table.

The chief object. of. this: invention is to.- operating means provide automatically 7 whereby upon moving. thetwo-end. leaves of the-table top-horizontaliy outwardly andiginwardly relatively to. each. other. the. center.

lea-f. Willi be lifted. into. its normal operative position between-the end-leaves and become.

interlocked. therewith, and. asimilar move u ment of. the; endleaveswill; cause the center.

leaf; to become; disengaged fromfthe. end/ leaves; and dropinto itsjlower inoperative.

position below-'theend leaves so asto becovered. by the. latter. when notrequired for. use.

A furtherobject ofithis invention is :to provide. means, for thus automatically moving the center. leaf of the table top into and. out.

of its'op erativej position which are very sim:

ple inconstruction and capable oi being mane ufacturedat lowcost and, which are easily operable and? not liable, toget out; of order" and do: notdetract. from: the appearance of the table either in'its extended or contracted/ condition, p V In the accompanying drawings: J

Figured is a perspective View ofanex tension table embodying my improvements: and showing the samein; its shortened condition.

F lgure 2 1s. a. sumlar-fragmentary. vlew of the sameshowing-thetabletop extendei. Figure-.31- is, a top-planview of-ethe-table,

with." part of the; 7 center: leafi. broken away,

the purpose center-leaf between. the same preparatory, to, interlockingthis center leaf with. the end leavesg z f it Figure; gt.- is a{ vertical cross. section taken onlineA--Fig. 3.. i Y

Figure 5is;.a bottom plan-viewofithe table;

withithelegs insection andshowingthe parts;-

in. ;the position which. the table is shortenei I Figure: fi-is a: perspective View of. the lift-.- mg; member and. associated, parts; whereby! lowered; Y

they occupy I when i the; center leaf-of the table-topis raised. and.

gituclinal sections ofthe upper part ofthe! table showing. the parts of the same. in the differentpositions which they. occupy when.

its. shortenedl condition and also. the various. stages; which, they; 'occupy 7 the table isein.

during :the .operation;of.- automatically raisvingrthecenter leaf- While it is not inuse.

V tween theendi leavesfor: the purpose of stor.-- 70 The extensiontable proper, may be. of anyfl zation. in which suitable or well-known constructlonanrlthe form 'shown in the drawings, is; therefore be regarded as. m 76p As there shown. the main elements .ogfthe'.

,extensiontable comprise a. main. frame-con sisting, of. twoilongitudinal side. liars: 20,210,;

two Crossbars 2-1,, 22, connecting thel corresponding opposite ends of the side, bars 20,.

'uprightilegs 23 connected with the cornersv of. the. longitudinal. bars 20. and; transverse bars 21.,,and two transverse spacingbarsfl;

24:. each connected at itsoppositeends with 7 to one. pair of. legs.

p the lower edge. of. the side bars 2.0, adjacent. showing thev position of the partsin which; theend leaves of. the. table, top.- are. pulledv apart to; their. fullest extent for. raisingthe leaves 25, 26 which are movable horizontally and lengthwise over the end portions of the main frame for the purpose of lengthening or shortening the table, and a centeror intermediate leaf or section 27fwhich is adapted to be raised and lowered into and out of an operative position between the opposing inner edges of the leaves 25,26 for the purpose 7 of filling the gap between the end leaves when the table is extended or occupying a position below the end leaves when the latter are moved togetherfor shortening the table; The end leaves of the table top" may be".

I guided on the main frame of the table forthis side bars and each secured at through '7 main frame 7 n J In the preferred construction-means are;

"son upon I outer purpose byany suitable or approved ilneans but this is accomplished in the present instands by two longitudinal guide rails 28, 28

arranged adjacent to the inner sides of the its-opposite ends to the upper side of the spacing bars 24 by meansof screws 29 o rother fastening means; two longitudinal sliding bars 80- se- 7 cured to the underside of, the end leaf 25 and having longitudinally sliding engagement with the outer sides of theguide rails 28 and also passing over the adjacent spacing bar 245 and through the corresponding cross bar- 21 of the frame, and twolongitudinal slide bars 31 secured to the underside ofthe' other end leaf-26 of the table top and having lonitudinally sliding engagement with the in her sides of the guide rails 28'and'a1so moving over the adjacent. spacing bar 24 and the companion "cross bar 22 of "the employed for causing both of the'en dleaves or sections of theltable top to move hori 'zontally toward and from each other in uniactuating oneor theaother .of these The means for this purpose, as shown in the drawings, are preferred and leavesl' comprisetwo equalizing gear 'pinions32' piv-- ot'ally mounted on the centralparts of the upper sides of the guide ,rails' 28,10uter gear racks 133 secured to the uppersides' of'the slide bars 30 of the end leaf 25 and engaging with the outer sides of the gear wheels or pinions 32, :resp'ectivelyfand inner gear racks gl, 3 l securedto the upper sides of the inner slide bars 31, respective ly, and meshing with the inner sides of the gear pinions 32, as shown in Fig.53,

, By these means pulling out .or pushing in one of theend: leaves of the table top' will cause the other end leaf of the table top tobe moved in unison therewith in the corresponding directiondue to the rotation of the equalizing gear wheels or pinions for transmitting rectilinearg' motion from one of these gear racks associated with one of the end leavesto the gear rack associated with the other end leaf, in an obvious manner.

When the two end leaves of the tabletop are mo'ved inward'lyto their fullest extent for shortening the table, the inner ends of these end leaves engage with each other and also interlock for the purpose of maintaining these end leaves in alignment, this being preferably effected by means of dowel pins 35 arranged on the end leaf 25 and engaging with recesses 36 in the opposing inner edge of the other end leaf 26, as shown in Fig. 7.

When the table is shortened, as shown in Fig. 7, the center leaf 2? is arranged below the underside of the end leaves 25 and 26 and the inner portions of the latter oven lap this center leaf and at this [time the center leaf has its opposite end portions arranged inrecesses 37 formed inthe central parts of the upper edges of the longitudlnal side bars 2Q of the table frame, as shown in j Figs. 1 and 7. V v The center leaf issipreferably compli'shed in :thjepresent'case by means of guided in its vertical movements and this is'practlcally ac upright guide pins 38 secured at theirupper guide openings 391for1ne'd inthe guide rails shown in Figsket'jf; an'd97 to 11]; there ends to the center leaf 2'! and'sliding by preventing displacing of thejcenterleaf and lnsurlng maintenance of the'sar'nei'n the" proper position relative'to the end-leaves for cooperation therewith. In the elevated p0;

sition of the center leafj the same is adapted to interlock or inter-engageitsopposite transverse edgeswith the inner transverse edgesof the end leaves by interloclzing means which preferably conslst of recesses or open- "'i11gs'l0 arranged ong'onefof tlie transver'se j edges of the center leaf anda'dapted to re ceive the dowel pins 35' of thefend le'af 25 while the }.opposite transverse edge or the center leaf is provided-with dowel-shaped locking 'pins 41 which are ad'apted'to' engage I with the recesses" 36 in the'inner edge ofthe other end leaf 26,as shown in Fig. 10.

The means" which embody-my invention for automatically elevating the center leaf into 'i'a position between the inner ends ofth'e'end' leaves and interlocking the same with the latter, and also releasing the center'leaf from the end leaves 'and'lowering the same into its inoperative position either lengthening or shortening the table, as

for" the purpose of" circumstances require, areconstructed as fol{ lows Below 7 and preferably in substantial alignment with the spacing bars 24 are twosupporting'bars 42, the opposite ends o'fwhichare preferably" the central part of the tabletop A secured to .theundersides of the guide rails 128 by means of screws lB so that these'supporting bars in effect form; part of the'stationary frame of thet'able} Between he upper side of these supporting barsand the central part of the under side of the'tabl'e top is arrangeda lifting member or fra'me which' isadapted' to move both horizontally lengthwise of the table and the front ends of the side bars 44, a'rear crossbar 46 connecting the side bars 4-45 adjacent-to their-Tear ends and front and rear' pairs of cams 47, 47- arranged on the-underside ofthe side bars-'44 and-each having front inclined" cam" face 48 and a rear horizontal face-'49; either. of-which may-be engaged with the upper sideof the adjacent support ngbar42 uponmovingthe'liiitinp memberhorik zont'ally relative tot-he frame of the table-.

Forward or outwardzmovement of the liftin gmember is effected by coupling the-same with one of the end leaves which iii-the:

present case is the end lea-f 26 and will for convenience of description be hereinafter referred toasthe master or front lea-f, so that the liftingframewill move longitudinally outward relative to; the table frame with the leaf '26 during the last partof the outward movement of the latter. 'Th'e' preferred means for this purpose which is shownin the drawings consist'sof a vertically swinging latch. orcatch'50 which has its-inner or rear. endarranged in a notch 51' in the cross bar-x45of the lifting-member and pivoted thereto" by means of a vertical screw 52 secured to the bar 45 an'd passinggloosely through an: openingin: the rear end" of the V latch 50: while the" front endfof this latch outward tappet 54 having the form of a" 'dd" t'h53f ll'th s o. 18 gm 8 m a no G m can ,lons itudinallyforward it lifts theicenter leaf l v 100. the latter so that this" center leaf is-lifted j I from; the depressed position shown in Fig; 7

tral part of the upper edge of the adjacent transverse bar 22 of the-main frame an'd an block secured tolthe underside of the-mas ter end leaf 26 and'adaptedf to engage its front or outer end with an inwardly facing shoulder 55 on the outer or front; end of the 1atch5Q; i Inward longitudinal'movement of the l-iftinfo; member is effected by means of an inward tapp'et 56having preferably the form of a e {Mp7 block which is securedito theundersi'de of f the master endileaf 26 and adapted to "en i gage with the front or outer side iofthe cross the center of the table. y

When the table is closed or folded into its bar of the lifting member on, one side of shortened condition, as shoWninFigs. 1 and 7. the inner edges of the end leaves engage with eachother and are interlocked by means of the-cooperating dowelipins andjrecesses arranged'therjeon; the center leaf 27 1s .de-'

pressed below the end leaves and: the lifting frame-is also moved into itsirearmost and out of engagement with the supporting hazev 42 andwthe latter engage'with: the underside of the side bars 44-of the liftingmember thelatch has its inner or rear end tilted-recess '361in tl'1e front end leaf 26 with the downwardly, theoutward tappet 54 is spaced :Fins:.3 and 8. o i

v llhe end leaves 25 and 26 'are now moved: longitudinally inward, butthe first part of this inwardimovement isidle without afi'ect-' ing-any other parts of the table.

ward tappet 56 is spaced from the-crossban 45-of the liftingimember. a

'-If itisidesiredito lengthen the extension I part-of this outward movementof the: two" end leaves isidle andno change in: the relation of any of the other parts of the'table:

occurs,.butduring the last part of'this out ward movement ofthe'endleavesthe outward I tappet 54 of'the master endleaf 26 engages: 'with. the shoulder of the latch 50 and mdves the latter outwardly"'togethenwith I the lifting member which is coupled therewitln: During this movement 'of the lifting memberthe inclined front faces 48 of its cams 47 ride up on'the supp'orting'cross bars 4'2 whereby'the. lifting member is elevated, and this outward longitudinal movement of the lifting; member-is continueda .su'ffici'ent no r extent to bring the horizontal or flat surface 49 of-th e cams 47 on" top of the supporting CI'OSSJbaI'S 42-soithat'nowed'ge or came action of the cams iseX-erted at this time against the bars 42' ancl the lifting member remains 7 1nitsielevated position, as shownin Fig, 8:

iiS the lifting member moves upwardly and of the table top engaging the underside of to; the. elevated position inline with the end) leavesand: into :thespace between the sepa rated inner ends of the end leaves which exi'st atthis time, as shown in Figr8. i I When the end leaves-are thus pulled out to. their fullest'extent and-the center leaf hasbeen ievated inthemanner justrlescribed, a" A iszformed between the inneredge of eachiof the end leaves and -th'e adjacent transverseedge 'ofit'he centerl'eaf 27-, as shown in During the next following frame; as shown in Fig; 9, and moves thelift- V. V I o i'n frame inwardl'ywhile the horizontal faces o '47 .Y- a lowermost position 1n which. its cams 4., are 749 g- Shees are Sm} restlng Onthesup doi'vel pins- 41 of tha centerleaf before the inclined'faces 48: of the cams come of the lifting 7 intermediate part ofthis in-'* Ward movement of the end leaves 25"and "26 into engagement with the supporting bars 42.

,adjacent-transverse end of the center leaf,

Immediately after the end leaves 25, 26 are thus interlocked with the center leaf the continued inward movement of the inward tap-' ipet 56 with the corresponding end leaf 26 will causethe lifting member to be moved inwardly to such an extent that the inclined faces 48 of the cams will come into engagement with the supporting bars 42, whereupon? Tithe weight of this lifting member will cause the cams to slide by gravity downwardly and rearwardly off from the supporting bars 42 into the' lowered position shown shown'in Fig.10;

"51 As the lifting member thus moves longitudinally inwardly and downwardly the front cross bar .45 of the lifting member moves inwardly and downwardly away from the inward tappet 56, as shown in Fig. 10.- 'ifallhereafter the inward movement of the two end fleaves continues until the inner ends thereof bear fully against the opposite trans, verse edges ofthe center leaf, as shown in'Fig.

2, in which condition the table is ready for iusein the extended condition of its top.

For the purpose of again unlocking the center leaf from the end leaves and lowering the center leaf so as to permit of moving the end leaves inwardly and shortening the table, the

'end leaves'are first pulled outwardly a sh'ort extent suflicientto disengage thelocking pins 85 of the rear end leaf 25 from the recesses 40 on. the adjacent edge of the center leaf, and also disengaging the recess 36 of the front Tend lea" 26 from, the lockingpins' 41 on the whereby the-center leaf is permitted to drop by gravity through the-space between the inner ends of-the end "leaves, as shownin :Figll.

During such partial outward movement of the front-and rear end leaves 25 and 26 the outward tappet' 54 engages'with the shoulder 55 of the latch50ande moves the lifting mem- .Lber longitudinally forward suificientlynto;

cause the inclines 48 of the cams to ride part way up the supporting bars 42 so that the upper side of the side bars 44 will be a certain distance above their lowermost posi: tron and thereby catch the center leaf, as shown 111 Fig. 11, on ts underside as'lt drops from between the opposing edges of the end leaves, thereby avoiding dropping the center leaf the full extent of its downward move ment at this time and avoiding any noisy action which otherwise might occur. 7 x

After the center leaf hasbeen-thus deposited upon the partly raised lifting member the Q ed toengage the underside of said center leaf and having cam 'surfa ces adaptedto en-J gage said frame; outward coupling means for j" that its inclines 48 slide downwardly on the supporting bars 42, whereby the center leaf 27 is lowered" below the. plane of the end leavesbythe time the inner edges ofthe endthe table to itsfully closed orshortened 1condition, as shown in Fig. 7.

I The several actions above described can:

lee-effected easily andconveniently without liability of binding or distorting any of the parts,the several members are 'all of simple construction and may be made practicallylout of small pieces of waste lumber, thus effecting a considerable economy in manufacture; and

vthe parts are so organized that they are not liable to get out of order and can also be op-f.

erated without making any noise.

' l/foreover, all partsof the elevatingdevice t are concealed from vlew so that they do not 7 detract from the appearance ofthe table,

thereby; rendering the same well-suited in v high class furniture in which this-istan im portant consideration V l cla m ajsmy'inventlon 1. A folding table comprising a frame top-having end leavesmovable horizontally toward and from each otheron'sa d frame,

and a center leaf movablevertically intoand outof a position between the end leaves; in-- terlocking meansarranged on the opposing edges of said end and center leaves; and

means for lifting said center leafinto and v able horizontally and vertically and adapted,

:out of its'operative position between saidend leaves including a liftlng member mov.

and having cam'surfacesladapted to engage "said frame, outward coupling means for moving'isaid' lifting member outwardly and causingesaidcam slir'facestoridellp on said frame and lift thecenterleaf uponmoving one ofsaid end'leave's outwardly; and in- I ward coupling meansfor moving said-lifting 'member inwardlyand causing said cam surfaces to run down said frame andlower the center leaf upon moving the respective end leaf inwardly. i

2. Afolding table comprisin'g'aframeila top having end leaves movable horizontally}.

toward, and from each other on said frame, and a center leaf movableweitically into; and out of a pos1tion between the end leaves;

interlocking means arranged on the oppo's-l,

ing edges of said endand center leaves; and] means for lifting said center leaf into and out of 'lfS operative position ,betweena said end leaves including a lifting membermovable horizontally and vertically andadapfl} moving said lifting member outwardlyand causing said cam surfaces to ride up onsaid f frame and lift the center leaf-"upon movingone of sald end leaves outwardly ,andinward e coupling means for moving said lifting member inwardly and causing said cam surfaces to run down said frame and lower the center leaf upon moving the respective end leaf inwardly; said outward and inward coupling means being arranged to operate on said lifting member with an interval of rest for the same between the outward and inward movemeans of the respective end leaf. 7

3. A folding table comprising a frame; a top having end leaves movable horizontally toward and from each other on said frame, and a center leaf movable vertically into and out of a position between the end leaves; interlocking means arranged on the opposing edges of said end and center leaves; means for lifting said center leaf into and out of its operative position between said end leaves including a lifting member adapted to engage said center leaf and having a cam engage ment with said frame; and outward coupling means for connecting said lifting member with one of said end leaves comprising a vertically swinging latch pivoted on said lifting member and having an inwardly facing shoulder, and an outward tappet arranged on the respective end leaf and adapted to en gage the shoulder of said latch during the last part of the outward movement of the respective end leaf.

4. A folding table comprising a frame; a top having end leaves movable horizontally toward and from each other on said frame, and a center leaf movable vertically into and out of a position between the end leaves; interlocking means arranged on the opposing edges of said end and center leaves; means for lifting said center leaf into and out of its operative position between said end leaves including a lifting member adapted to engage said center leaf and having a cam engagement with said frame; and outward coupling means for connecting said lifting member with one of said end leaves comprising a vertically swinging latchpivoted at the inner end of said lifting member and guided at its outer end on said frame and provided on its upper side with an inwardly facing shoulder; and an outward tappet arranged on the underside of the respective end leaf and adapted to; engage the shoulder of said latch during the last part of the outward movement of therespective end leaf.

5. A folding table comprising a frame; a

top having end leaves movable horizontally toward and from each other on said frame, and a center leafmovable vertically into and out of a position between the end leaves; interlocking means arranged on the opposing edges of said end and center leaves; means for lifting said center leaf into and out of its operative position between said end leaves including a lifting member adapted to engage said center leaf and having a cam engagement with said frame; outward member with the respectii e lowered after the center leaf locked with the end'leavesu p 6. A folding table comprising a frame; a

coupling means adapted to connect said liftthe respective end leaf for causing thelifting member to raise said end leaf; and inward coupling means for connecti' 7 end leaf-during the last part ofthe inward movement of the latter for ,causingthe lifting member to be top having end leaves movable horizontally toward and from each other on said frame,

and a center leaf movable vertically into and I" out of a position between the end leaves; in-

terlocking means arranged on the opposing edges of said end and center leaves; means for lifting said center leaf into and out of its operative position between said end leaves has been inter- I '70 ng said lifting including a lifting member adapted to engage said center leaf and having a cam engagement with said frame; outward coupling means for connecting said lifting member with one of said end leaves comprising a vertically swinging latch pivoted at its inner end to said lifting member and guided at its outer end on said frame and provided on its upper side-with an inwardly facing shoulder; and an outward tappet arranged on the underside of the respective end leaf and l adapted to engage the shoulder of said latch during the last part of the outward movement of the respective end leaf; and inward coupling means consisting of an inwardtap pet arranged on the underside of the respec- 'tive end leaf and adapted during the last part of the inward movement of the respective end leaf to engage said lifting member and move the same inwardly and downwardly relative to the frame.

' 7. A folding table comprising a frame; a top having end leaves movable horizontally toward and from each other on said frame, and a cent-er leaf movable vertically into and out of a position between the end leaves; in-

terlocking means arranged on the opposing edges of sald end and center leaves; means for lifting said center leaf into and out of its operative position between said end leaves including a lifting member adapted to engage said center leaf and having a cam engagement vwith said frame; outward coupling means for connecting said lifting member with-one of said end leaves comprising a vertically swinging latch pivoted at its inner end to said lifting member and guided at its outer end on said frame and provided on its upper side with an inwardly facing shoulder; and an outward tappet arranged on the underside of the respective end leaf and adapted to engage the shoulder of said latch duringthe last part of the outward movement of the respective end leaf; and inward coupling means consisting of an inward tap- -pet arranged on the underside of the respective end leaf and adapted during the last part of the inward movement of the respective end leaf to engage said lifting member-and move the sameinwardly and downwardly relative to the frame, the-relative arrangement of the outward and inward tappets belng such that when the outward tappet engages said latch then the inward tappet is disengaged from said lifting member and when the inward tappet engages said lifting member then said outward tappet is disengaged from said latch.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature.

AUGUST KARLSONV 

